Will You Get A Gold Medal in this Olympics?

Just read a very very beneficial email mashaAllah regarding how to end the month of Ramadhaan. I hope that you all take benefit from it and may Allah give us the strength and tawfeeq to finish this month and to finish it with excellence.

When you think of the month of Ramadhaan, it is so similar to the Olympics… in the sense that in all those sports, the ones who win are the ones who generally give it all they got in the last stretch.. whether it’s swimming or the relay… Similarly, fasting for the entire month starts to take its toll the most at the end! Not at the beginning. The taraweeh prayers are full at the beginning because generally people have more enthusiasm and energy in the beginning of Ramadhaan.

It’s only after the month starts to progress do you see the ones who really WANT to catch laylatul qadr and the forgiveness of Allah and their duas being accepted that they DO NOT GIVE UP!

They continue at the obedience of Allah… and the one who truly Knows his Rabb and Knows His Rewards, then he knows that this struggle and the last extra push at the end should be more beloved to him than the athlete competing in the Olympics. The one in the olympics is striving for the Gold Medal while we, as servants of Allah, are striving for the gold mansions and the immense rewards waiting for us in Jannah in-sha-Allah. Our desire for the reward of Jannah should be stronger than the athlete striving for the gold medal in the Olympics.

Imagine if the gold medal in the Olympics was given to the one who starts off with the most enthusiasm! But its not. It’s given to the one who ENDS first and gives it all they got at the end.

Similarly, for the month of Ramadhaan, imagine if Allah had put laylatul qadr at the beginning. Everyone has the enthusiasm in the beginning. But by the end of Ramadhaan, you are left with the ones seeking Laylatul qadr and the forgiveness of Allah the most and thus, they are the ones most deserving to get the Gold Medal!

The race is still not over and there are a few days left so I urge myself, and then, all of you to do all you can to end this month to get the Gold Medal.

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Text below taken from Maktabah al-Fawaaid mailing list

Bidding Farewell to Ramadan 1433 H – 2012

Khutbah number 35 – The state of the Companions in Ramadhaan and Laylatul Qadr (URDU)

All praise is for Allaah, Lord of all the Worlds, who ordered us to follow His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and to call to His Way, and may Allaah send praises and blessings of peace upon our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and upon his family, his Companions, and those who truly follow them until the Day of Judgment.

Below are few excerpts from the translated post on salafitalk.net by Our Elderly Brother in Salafiyyaah, Abu Ismael Mustafa Bin George (hafidhahullaah) from Imaam Ibn Rajab’s (rahim’ullaah) book : Lataif al Maaýrif; from the portion of pertaining to [end of] Ramadan which was summarized by Shaykh Abdur Rahman bin Muhammed bin Qassim the compiler of Mejmu al Fatawa by Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahim’ullaah), with several additions by Shaykh Abdur Rahman himself.

May Allah have mercy on Imaam Ibn Rajab, Shaykh Abdur Rahman and all the Muslims and forgive us for our shortcomings, pertaining to the ending of this blessed month of Ramadan.

Abu Ismael (hafidhahullaah) started with the dua “I ask Allah with His wonderful Names and Magnificent Attributes to make this short reading a benefit for the reader and a means of gaining Allah’s pleasure”. [Ameen]

After narrating hadith on the virtue of fasting and Laylatul Qadr, Our Brother (hafidhahullaah) mentioned the below on the authority of the author :

“The Salaf worked diligently in perfecting their actions and making them faultless, then after that, they showed great concern for acceptance of their actions. They did this because they feared that their actions would be rejected. They are those who gave what was incumbent upon them while their hearts were in a state of fear.

It is reported that Ali bin Abi Taleb (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said : Be more concerned that your actions are accepted than your concern of performing the action itself. Did you not hear the statement of Allaah : {Verily Allah only accepts the actions of the Mutaqeen (pious)}

Imaam Fudalah (rahim’ullaah) said : For me to know that Allah has accepted from me an action the size of a mustard seed, is more beloved to me than this world and everything within it. This is because of the statement of Allah: {Verily Allah only accepts the actions of the Mutaqeen (pious)}

Malik bin Dinar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said : Fear that an action is not accepted is more difficult than performing the action itself.

ImaamAtaa as Sulamee (rahim’ullaah) stated : The pious fear that their righteous actions were not done sincerely for Allah.

ImaamAbdul Azeez Ibn Abee Ruwaad (rahim’ullaah) said : I have met people very diligent in performing actions, and upon completion of those actions they are faced with sadness in fear of the action being accepted or not. Some Salaf used to say: The people of the past would supplicate 6 months to Allah to allow them to reach the month of Ramadan, and then upon completion of the month, they would again supplicate 6 months (begging) for acceptance of their fast. Some of the Salaf would display sadness on the day of Eid. It was said to them: This is a day of happiness and joy! They would respond: You have spoken the truth, but I am a servant, my Lord has ordered me to perform an action but I am not sure if He will accept it from me or not.

ImaamWahb (rahim’ullaah) noticed people laughing on the day of Eid, upon seeing this he stated : If their fast was accepted, then know that this is not the action of those who are grateful, and if it was not accepted, then this is not the action of those who are afraid.

Imaam Hasan (al Basri) (rahim’ullaah) stated : Indeed Allah has made Ramadan a means of gain for His creation. (Within this month) they race to gain His pleasure through obedience to Him. Some individuals will gain (win), while others will remain back and lose. It is amazing to see a person playing and laughing on a day that the good doers will be rewarded, and the wrong doers will be defeated.

It is reported that Ali bin Abee Talib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) would call out on the last day of Ramadan: Where is the winner so that we may congratulate him, and where is the loser so that we may give him condolences. Oh winner, we congratulate you! Oh loser, may Allah give you ease in your time of calamity!

ImaamQatadah (rahim’ullaah) said : It used to be said: Whoever does not have his sins forgiven in Ramadan, he will not have his sins forgiven in other than Ramadan (meaning : if one did not take advantage of such great opportunity in Ramadan, more than likely he will not take advantage of any other opportunity). There is also a hadith similar to this, its wording is: whoever does not receive forgiveness in Ramadan, then when will he receive forgiveness

(Poetry)

“If your sins are harming you, then cure them by raising your hands during the dark night. Do not despair from the mercy of Allah, for verily your despairing from His mercy is a greater fault than the sin you committed”

It is incumbent upon one who desires salvation from the Hell-fire to perform the actions that warrant this salvation.

The author continues to say : The declaration of Tawheed eliminates sins and wipes them away. No sin will remain nor will any action out weight Tawheed, and it is similar to freeing a slave which warrants one’s salvation from the Hell-fire.

He further says : As for the speech of Istigfar (Kelimat al Istigfar), then it is the greatest reason for forgiveness. Verily Istigfar means supplication for forgiveness, and the supplication of the fasting individual is answered while he is fasting, and at the time of breaking the fast.

Imaam Hasan (al Basri) (rahim’ullaah) said : Increase in you seeking of forgiveness, for verily you donýt know when the mercy of Allah will befall you.

Luqman (alayhi salam) said to his son : Oh my son, condition your tongue to constantly seek forgiveness from Allah. Verily Allah has specific hours that He does not reject supplication.

There is also a narration that Shaytan mentioned : I have destroyed mankind with sins, and they have destroyed me with La illaha illa Allah and Istigfar.

Istigfar is the conclusion of all actions. One completes prayer with istigfar, along with Hajj and night prayer. It is also used to close gatherings. If these gatherings are gatherings of obedience, then istigfar is considered a brand to the gathering. But if the gathering was one of vein talk, then istigfar is considered expiation. Likewise, it is befitting that one concludes the month Ramadan with istigfar.

Imaam Umar bin Abdul Azeez (rahim’ullaah) wrote to his governors informing them to end the month of Ramadan with istigfar and charity (sadaqatu fitr), for verily sadaqatu fitr is a means of purification for the fasting person from vein talk and lude acts, and istigfar mends the fault caused by actions that harm one’s fast.

Umar bin Abdul Azeez (rahim’ullaah) mentioned in his letter :

Say as your father Adam (alayhi salam) has said : {Oh my Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will be from the losers}

And say as Nuh (alayhi salam) has said : {If you do not forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be from the losers}

And say as Musa (alayhi salam) has said : {Oh my Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me}

And say as Dhu’n Nun (alayhi salam) has said : {There is no deity worthy of worship except You, glory be to You, indeed I have been amongst the oppressors}

Imaam Yahya bin Muaadh (rahim’ullaah) said : The smart individual is not the one whose greatest goal is other than seeking the pardon of Allah. (The smart individual is not the one who) seeks forgiveness with his tongue, while his heart is firmly attached to sin, and he truly intends to return to sin after the completion of Ramadan. This individual fast is rejected, and acceptance is closed in his face.

Ka’b (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said : Whoever fasts Ramadan while inwardly saying : Once the month is over, I will disobey Allah; this person’s fasting is rejected. And whoever fasts the month while inwardly saying: Upon completion of the month, I won’t disobey Allah, this person will enter Jannah without questioning or debate.

The author further states : Oh servants of Allah, indeed the month of Ramadan has prepared to leave, and nothing remains except a few more days. Whoever has done well during the month should continue to do well, and whoever was deficient, should try to end the month in good, for indeed actions are according to their completion. Therefore, take advantage of what remains of the month, and give the month the best farewell and peace.

The hearts of the believers yearn for this month and morn over its departure. If this is the case with those who have gained during this month, then what is the case with those who have been negligent during its days and nights? What will the crying of this negligent person benefit him, when his trial and calamity is so great and tremendous? How many times was this poor individual advised, but he did not accept this advice! How many times was he called to correction, but he did not answer this call! How many people did he view gaining in this month, while he distanced himself from gain! How many times have the obedient passed him by, while he sat! (And now) time is constrained and reality has befallen him, now he regrets, but there is no benefit in this regret.

Abu Ismael(hafidhahullaah) has been active in the field of da’wah online and through courses, lectures and writings. www.salafee.multiply.com is his website. Currently Brother resides in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is regular at the study circler of Shaykh Saalih al-Luhaydaan (hafidhahullaah) [member of Council of Senior Ulamaa and Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia]

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“O Allaah! Show us the truth as truth so that we may follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood, so that we may abstain from it.” Ameen.